A training school in Zunyi, Guizhou province, China has sparked widespread debate after videos showed students being required to carry fake baby dolls and participate in pregnancy simulation exercises as part of a disciplinary-style education programme.
According to local media reports, female students were instructed to carry toy infants during lessons, meals and daily chores such as laundry, in an attempt to simulate the responsibilities of childcare. Male students were also included in later activities, with some seen wearing watermelons strapped to their stomachs to mimic pregnancy, while also participating in childcare tasks alongside their female classmates.
The school reportedly explained that the exercises were designed as a “gratitude lesson” aimed at discouraging early relationships and teenage pregnancy by exposing students to the perceived difficulties of parenting at a young age.
Generally, such unconventional educational approaches often generate public debate, particularly when they involve physical role-play methods intended to influence behaviour and attitudes among minors.
A teacher involved in the programme said the initiative was targeted at students with issues such as excessive gaming, school avoidance, celebrity obsession and early romantic relationships. He added that the aim was to help students understand the realities of family life and the challenges of raising children.
The programme quickly drew attention after footage circulated online, prompting mixed reactions from the public. While some supported the intent behind the lessons, many criticised the approach as inappropriate and overly harsh, arguing that it reinforced gender stereotypes by initially focusing only on female students.
In response to the criticism, later videos showed male students also participating in similar exercises, including carrying weighted objects to simulate pregnancy and taking part in childcare-related chores.
The incident has since fuelled broader discussions in China about the boundaries of behavioural education in schools, and whether such methods are effective or excessive in shaping student attitudes.
